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Ivan Gonta(Ukrainian:Іван Ґонта;c. 1705[a]– 1768) was one of the leaders of theKoliivshchyna,an armed rebellion of peasants andUkrainian CossacksagainstBar confederationin thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Ivan Gonta | |
|---|---|
 Ivan Gonta | |
| Born | c. 1705 |
| Died | 1768 |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Known for | One of the leaders of the Koliivshchyna |
Born in Rożyszki (modern Rozsishky) nearUman'inBracław Voivodship,Gonta served as asotnik(captain) of Cossack household militia ofFranciszek Salezy Potocki,theVoivodeofKiev,and commanded a small unit in the garrison of Uman since 1757. During theKoliivshchynahe was ordered to fight the approachinghaidamakaforces ofMaksym Zalizniak.Instead, he and his militia joined the rebels, and the joint forces captured and ravaged the town of Uman on June 21, 1768. In what became known as theMassacre of Uman,thousands of local Polishszlachta,Jews,Uniatesand other people were slaughtered. After that, Gonta was proclaimedcoloneland commanded the garrison of Uman.
When Gonta sent a detachment to spread rebellion into the Ottoman Empire,Catherine the Great,the Empress ofRussia,dispatched a regiment ofDon Cossacksfighting against Bar confederation to help Poland suppress the rebellion to prevent Ottomans from waging a war against Russia. The commander of the Russian unit, Guriev, made the rebels believe he was siding with them for the joint trip against Bar confederation and managed to capture approximately 900 of them without a single shot. After that, Ivan Gonta was handed over to the Poles and was tried for hightreason.Sentenced to death by grand CrownHetmanFranciszek Ksawery Branicki,he was then executed in the village of Serby by being flayed alive and quartered.
Although largely non-notable during his life, after his death he became aheroof countless folk songs and legends that portrayed him as a hero and amartyr.He was immortalized inTaras Shevchenko's controversialepic poemHaidamakythough Gonta had never killed his Roman Catholic sons, because his wife and children were of Orthodox faith and in fact he had never initiated the massacre of Uman himself.
In popular culture
edit- Taras Shevchenko's epic poem «Haidamaky» dedicated to kolii including Gonta.
External links
editNotes
edit- ^The fact that Ivan Gonta was born in 1705 is stated in the inscription on his portrait.